Elatinaceae 251 



ous pit; capsule 2.5 cm. long, hispid with short pungent hairs, 

 the cells villous within. (Fretnontia Californica Torr.) 



Frequent in the upper altitudes of the chaparral belt of our interior 

 region. June-July. 



Family 56. ELATINACEAE. Waterwort Family. 



Low herbs with opposite or verticillate stipulate entire 

 or serrate leaves, and small axillary or fascicled regular 

 perfect flowers. Sepals 2-5, imbricated. Petals of the 

 same number, hypogynous. Stamens of the same num- 

 ber or twice as many. Ovary 2-5-celled ; styles 2-5 ; 

 ovules many, anatropous. Capsule with septieidal dehis- 

 cence ; placentae central. Seed-coat crustaceous, rugose 

 or ribbed. 



1. ELATINE L. 



Small glabrous or glabrate aquatic or creeping herbs 

 with opposite or verticillate leaves, and minute axillary 

 mainly solitary flowers. Sepals 2-4, persistent, mem- 

 branous. Capsule membranous, globose, 2-4-valved. 

 Seeds straight or slightly curved, striate longitudinally 

 and transversely. 



1. E. brachysperma Gray. Terrestial or sometimes aquatic, 

 spreading, tufted, 2-5 cm. long ; leaves oblong, oval or lanceolate, 

 narrowed at the base, 4-6 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide; sepals, 

 petals and stamens mainly 2; capsule globose, about 1 mm. in 

 diameter; seeds short-oblong, nearly straight, about 0.5 mm. 

 long, marked by 6-7 longitudinal strise and 10-12 transverse 

 ones. 



Occasional along borders of ponds toward the coast. 



Family 57. FRANKENIACEAE. Frankenia 

 Family. 



Low perennial herbs or undershrubs with opposite 

 entire exstipulate leaves, sessile and often united at the 



